McMaster professors show support of teaching, research assistant strike

Some of McMaster University’s professors showed major support on Wednesday for teaching and research assistants on strike. The teaching and research assistants are on the 17th day of their strike.

Dozens of people were at McMaster University on Wednesday and during the demonstrations, at least one professor accused the university of dirty tricks and lying about the strike.

Professor Eugenie Zuroski accused the university of misrepresentation and misinformation and tried to convince professors they have to do the work of striking TAs. “We have seen the McMaster upper administration attempt some of the dirtiest tricks in the anti-strike playbook to undermine this labour action rather than return to the table.”

Students also spoke out for the TAs, with the university making a profit, “the fact that McMaster is prioritizing profits not only over my education but the very existence of TAs and their students is reprehensible,” student Ian McMillan said.

With no sign of an end to the strike, union members and some professors say some students won’t get their marks this term without tas to do the marking.

McMaster University wouldn’t speak with CHCH News on camera but issued a statement saying the union does not speak for the university, however, it did not deny that some courses won’t be marked. It also said more than 45 per cent of union members are not striking and are working as normal.

The strikers from McMaster expanded their picket line today to downtown Hamilton. They targetted a high rise under construction, supposedly as a graduate student residence.

“This place is going to cost $1,800 a month to live in. they only pay us $11,000 a year, and they put limits on how many hours we can work elsewhere, leaving us in a really impossible situation. Leaving the question of who are they building this for?” President of CUPE 3906 Chris Fairweather said.

With professors and others marching to the picket line in support, the strikers say they’re waiting for any movement toward a resolution.

The strikers are asking for a wage increase of between 15 and 32 per cent over three years. The university is offering 9.75 per cent. There are other issues like job security and more support for PhD students.